Alexander Turner

BEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering, 2021; MSc Financial Engineering 2022
Software Engineer, Goldman Sachs

I design, implement, maintain and enhance some of the technological solutions utilised within Goldman Sachs's Private Wealth Management business. I work as part of a global team, often working in parallel to deliver projects quickly, and always providing time zone-independent coverage for support queries and emergencies. The fundamental purpose of most projects is that we are delivering something of value to internal or external stakeholders; our solution aim to fit the stakeholders' expectations, which can often evolve as a project progresses. Thus, the design of new products, and enhancements to existing ones, is a collaborative process. 

Alex Turner

What is the best thing about what you are doing now?

 I work in a challenging environment, with high expectations on myself and my team. I enjoy this atmosphere, as it motivates me to consistently deliver my projects quickly, and to a high standard. This culture ensures that a disproportionate number of my colleagues are intelligent, capable people with excellent work ethics. Being surrounded by such people inspires me to give my best every day, and I find myself working to mirror the traits that I admire in my senior colleagues, the experience and knowledge of whom never ceases to amaze me.

What made you interested in your current role?

I always gravitated towards computers when I was young, and this only intensified when I started studying Computer Science at school. My personal interests in finance and mathematics may have led me to study Financial Engineering at university, but I never stopped coding in my spare time, and I found that my programming modules were always my favourite. An engineering role in such a prestigious financial institution as Goldman Sachs seemed like the ideal way to leverage my broad skillset and personal interests.

How has your career developed since graduating from the University of Birmingham?

When I graduated 12 months ago [at time of writing], I did not expect to take on as much responsibility as I have done over the past year. I have developed APIs independently, having discussed the deliverables with stakeholders, and the solutions with my senior colleagues, and find myself being the go-to person for some other teams to ask questions about our existing products- most of which I did not develop, and had to become familiar with through investigating such queries. The responsibility has certainly increased my confidence since graduating, and I hope to continue on this upwards trajectory for the foreseeable future.

What skills you learned from your degree or time at University would you say you use most in your job?

Of course, my technical skills developed on my programming modules have been the most important for me on a day-to-day basis. Outside of technical skills, the team-working and project management experiences I had at UoB have helped me immensely, and the frequent deadlines prepared me for my high-pressure, results-driven work environment.

 

 

 

We Are Birmingham Alumni

What motivates you?

Growing up in the West Midlands, and always being technically inclined, I am very passionate about encouraging the growth of the Midlands technology industry. I hope to encourage local students who spend time with computers and other devices to learn about how they work; they might find themselves lined up for a very satisfying, rewarding career.

Why did you originally apply to Birmingham?

Hailing from the West Midlands, attending the University of Birmingham allowed me to stay close to my family and close friends, who supported me throughout my studies. The university also had an excellent reputation for the course I originally applied for- theoretical physics. Whilst I am glad that I gradually aligned my studies with my personal interests of finance and computing, and found the staff at the university to be incredibly supportive of me in this, I still stay up-to-date with some of the research produced in scientific fields by the university.

What are your fondest memories of the University?

My first-year accommodation on The Vale was beautiful, and greatly eased the otherwise sudden transition from living with family to living independently. Overall, I found the physical environment in and around the university's campus to be calming during stressful times, and my many long nights in the library with my course-mates were critical for both our successes on our course and our bonding as friends.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?

I loved how easy it was to try out new sports at university and found myself playing tennis one day and boxing the next. I also had the privilege of writing and editing for 'The Student Investor' blog of the Investment Society, and the society's career events actually allowed me to network with my future colleagues at Goldman Sachs, having already received my offer beforehand.

How did your time at university help you start your career?

I first learned about my employer's presence in Birmingham at a Mathematics career's fair on the Poynting Bridge on campus. These events were critical for my success, inspiring me to set my career aspirations high.

Is there anything you wish you knew before you started your studies?

Learning to cook and clean was painful for me at first and was long overdue. On a lighter note of recommendation to future freshers, don't open things with knives because you don't want to wash the scissors!

What advice would you give to current students studying on your degree programme?

Firstly, join the investment society, and/or similar course-adjacent societies which spark your interest. Secondly, appreciate the difficulty of your own work, and consider how you will explain the value of your specialist skills to non-technical interviewers and recruiters. Finally, choose a dissertation project which aligns with the kind of work you want to do after graduation. The 'FinTech' space is a lucrative and competitive one, so find your niche and dive into it.

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